Coin-actuated vending-mach ine



(No Model) 6 SheetsSheefc 1.

J. P. BERETTA. 00m AGTUATED VENDING MACHINE.

No. 563,906. Patented July 14, 1896.

(No Model.) 6 S-heetsSheet 2.

J. P. BERETTA. 00m AOTUATBD VENDING MACHINE.

No. 563,906. Patented July 14, 1896.-

(No Model.) Q I 6 Sheets8heet 3. J. P. BERETTA.

00m AGTUATED VENDING MAG-HIKE. No. 563,906 Patented July 14, 1896.

6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

J. P. BERETTA. GOIN AGTUATED VENDING MACHINE.

N0.563,906. Patented July 14, 1896.

616 Model.) 6 Sheets-$116665. J. P. BERETTA. COIN AGTUATED VENDING MACHINE.

N6. 563,906. Patented July 14, 1896.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

J. P. BERETTA. COIN AGTUATED VENDING MACHINE.

No. 563,906. Patented July 14, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcn.

JOSEPH P. BERETTA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COlN-ACTUATED VENDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 563,906, dated July 14:, 1896.

Application filed September 27, 1895. Serial No. 663,852. (No model.)

To all whom, it .may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. BERE'ITA, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Actuated Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invent-ion relates to a device for automatically delivering merchandise to a person upon the placing of a proper coin in a slot provided therefor and upon the subsequent actuation of an operating -handle located within the reach of the operator.

To such end the invention consists in certain features of construction which will be fully described in this specification and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The objects of my invention are to provide, first, a suitable ornamental case, preferably of metal and adapted to contain any number of machines for delivering different kinds of merchandise and having doors which may be thrown open during the busy season, but which may close up the machine at other times to prevent malicious persons from interfering with the same; second, an operating-handle provided with a device whereby the delivery-gates may be actuated by means of a coin of sufficient size and weight passing through said. device, and suitable means for turning an improper coin out of the proper direction; third, a device for disposing of smaller coins than the required size, paper,'or other objectionable matter which may be placed within the slot 5 fourth, a coin-weighin g scale located in the coin-chute and adapted to be actuated by coins which have passed through the device for disposing of smaller coins than the proper ones; fifth, removable storage-receptacles adapted to contain the several differentkinds of merchandise to be sold.

The drawings presented herewith illustrate my invention in its preferred form and consist of twenty-one figures, of which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the complete apparatus, one of the doors being shown partly open. 2 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, showing one of the machines, the section being taken in line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section in line 3 3, Fig. 1, but looking in the opposite direction to that in Fig. 2. Fig. 4. is a similar View, but showing the working parts in a dilferent position. 5 is a View partly in horizontal section and partly in plan, the section being taken in line 5 5 of Figs. 1 and Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the parts seen in Fig. 5, the front case of the machine being removed. Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the case of the machine and showing the locking device for holding the doors in an open position, the section being taken in line 7 '7, Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a detail section of the coin-displaying device, the section being taken in line 8 8, Fig. (3. Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 10 is a broken detail vertical section through the line 10 10, Fig. 1, showing the doors in their closed and locked position when the machine is not in use. Fig. 11 is asection of one of the cases for storing the parcels, the section being taken in line 11 11, Fig. .4. Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the same, certain portions being broken awayto'show construction. Fig. 13 is a section in line 13 13 of Fig. 11 and showing a means for securing the case together. Fig. 1% is a detail plan view of a portion of the coin-chute and operating mechanism and by-pass for improper coins. Fig. 15 is a detail section of the coin-chute, taken in line 15 15 of Figs. 5 and 16. Fig. 16 is a plan of the same, the covering-plate I3 being removed to show the slot. Fig. 17 is a detail crosssection of the coin-chute and shaft of the scale, the section being taken in line 17 17, Fig. 4. Fig. 18 is a section in line 18 18, Fig. 17. Fig. 19 is a cross-section of the coinchute and showing the receptacle for the,

coins of correct size, but of less weight than the proper coin, the section being taken in line 19 19, Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 20 is a crosssection in line 20 20, Fig. 4; and Fig. 21 is a cross-section in line 21 21 of Fig. 1 and showing a sample of the goods to be sold.

Referring to the drawings, the case is seen to consist of a rectangular box A, preferably of metal and provided with the top, side, and back pieces. Upon the front edges of the side pieces are secured two rods a by means of straps a a, (see 2 and 7,) and upon these rods are hung two doors A A, which are also provided with straps a which encircle the rods and act as hinges for the door. Tubes a encircle the rods to between the hinges and present the appearance of one continuous tube from the top to the bottom of the case. One of the doors is provided with a bar a, (see Fig. 10,) extending the entire length thereof, and projecting through the door are a series of hooks a a, adapted to pass through corresponding holes in the other door and lock the two together. The front of the machine is provided with three staples a a a (see Fig. 1,) the staples a being adapted to receive the ends of the hooks a a and the staple a to receive a link a, secured to the lower end of the rod a, and an ordinary padlock may be secured to the staple to lock the doors in place. In locking the doors the rod is raised to its'highest position, the doors closed, the rod drawn down, pushing the hooks a into the staples a the lowest hook a over the end of a portion of the framework, as seen in Fig. 10, the link a slipped over the staple a and the padlock secured thereto. The hooks a pass through the corresponding holes, which are T-shaped, as seen in Fig. 7, and engage with the door, thus making an extremely secure fastening therefor.

The doors A are preferably stamped up to form two ribs to as seen in Figs. 1, 5 and 7, and at one of these ribs are secured bolts a, which pass through holes in the sides of the box and engage with locking-levers a. The bolts a are provided with notches in their upper surfaces, and when the doors are thrown open the bolts pass through the holes in the walls, raising the locking-levers, which fall into the notches and prevent the doors from being closed until the bolts are released. The locking-levers are pivoted to the inner sides of the box and their free ends connected by a link (0 so that both will operate at one time, the upper lever being provided with an extension a, which, when pressed downward, releases the bolts and allows the doors to be closed.

In the front of the case and upon the rod a is hung a door A the frame of which may be' of any ornamental design and preferably provided with a mirror, which may also be adapted for advertising purposes. Below the door is a plate B, provided with openings 1), through which a sample of each article to be sold can be seen, said article being confined in a 'glass jar or in the case itself, (seen at Z) in Fig. 21,) secured to the plate B in any desired manner.

The case A contains a number of machines for the delivery of different kinds of merchandise, but as the machines are exactly alike I shall only describe one of them. \Vithin the case is a shaft 0, secured in two supporting-brackets D D, (see Figs. 2 to 6,) spaced a short distance apart, and upon the shaft is pivoted an oscillating lever C, which is provided with an operating-handle 0, extending without the machine and in convenient reach of the operator. The lever O is provided with an arm a, (see Figs. 5 and 6,) also pivoted upon the shaft 0, which gives the lever along bearing upon the shaft. The main portion of the lever extends beyond the shaft and upon its upper end is pivoted a trigger-block 0 (see Figs. 2, 3 4, 5, and 14,) lying in the path of the coin and operating the mechanism for delivering the packages when the proper coin comes in contact therewith.

In the plate B are a number of slots b (see Fig. 1,) through which the coins are inserted, and directly back of the slot is a cast ing B, (see Figs. 3, 4, 5, 15, and 10,) into which the coin falls. This casting is preferably formed in the shape seen in Fig. 15, and is provided with a slot in its lower face through which paper, &c., may drop and not pass through the working portions of the machine. The casting B is also formed with a shoulder B slightly wider than the thickness of a proper coin, and upon this is secured a cover B The shoulder B and slot incline somewhat toward the front of the case from top to bottom, so that when a coin falls in the passageway between the casting and cover it will strike the shoulder and be guided thereby until it reaches the groove 8, and, as the space between the shoulder and the farther edge of the slot is a little less than the diameter of the proper coin, any disk or coin which is of .a smaller diameter will fall through the slot and out of the way.

At the end of the groove 5 is'a U-shaped trough S, (see Figs. 3 to 6,) supported by two arms 8 of a casting 8, said casting being provided with a knife-edged shaft 5 (see Figs. 17 and 18,) resting in V-shaped grooves in bearing-blocks 3 secured in arms (1, extending outward from the bracket D. These bearing-blocks are of steel and are slightly tapered and fit in a conical hole in the arm (I, and upon the outer face of the arm is placed a washer s, also of steel, and of greater diam: eter than the bearing-block. The screw s connects the washer with the bearing-block and secures the latter in place. The end of the shaft 8 is pointed, as seen in Fig. 18. and rests against the washer, thus forming with the knife-edge an extremely delicate balancing-point. The casting S is provided with two screw-threaded pins 5- 3 (see Figs. 3 to 6,) and upon these pins are nuts 5 by which the scale may bevery delicately adjusted, so that if a coin large enough to escape falling through the slot in the casting B reaches the scale and is of less weight than that of the proper coin it will not affect the scale, but will travel along until the end of the trough S is reached, when it will drop into a chute S (see Figs. 14: and 19) and thence into a reservoir R. The reservoir R is secured to the bracket D by means of a wire r, which is slipped through a keyholeslot r in a lug r upon the bracket D.

If a coin of proper weight reaches the scale, it will overbalance the same and swing the trough S until it registers with a by-pass S Said by-pass consists of a short U-shaped trough to which is secured a pin s (see Fig.

' 20,) which is pivotally secured in a lug upon the bracket D, and is normally held out of line by a spring 3 (See Fig. 14.) The free end of said by-pass is, however, provided with a wedge-shaped cam S, which lies in the path of a finger 0 upon the trigger-block and is struck thereby and crowded into a straight line when the trigger-block is in its raised position and the operating-lever in its lowest. If, however, the operating-lever be raised for any purpose before the coin has been. inserted in the slot, the spring 3 will force the by-pass out of line, and the coin will stop against the end of a plate D (see Fi 14,) which forms one side of the remaining portion of the chute. If the operatinglevcr be now returned to its proper place, the finger c will crowd the chute into its proper position. and the coin roll onward until it strikes the trigger-block.

The trigger-block is provided upon one side with a pawl C (see Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 14,) said pawl being connected with the main portion of the block by a web C and lying in the pathof said pawl is an oscillating lever E, pivoted upon the shaft 0, and having a web e, Figs. 5 and 6, extending away from the main portion and terminating in an arm E, also pivoted upon the shaft. The main portion of the lever E extends forward from the shaft, where it is formed into the shape of a right angle, as seen in Fig. 6 at e, and rests upon rubber buffer secured to the bracketl), and upon the angle portion of the lever rests the weighted end of the operating-lever C.

The trigger-block is provided with a shoulder Z, Fig. 2, against which the coin rests, and the shoulder and chute at this point are so formed with relation to each other that if the operating-handle be raised. the trigger-block, besides swinging upon the shaft 0 as acenter, will be crowded away at its upper end from the chute by the coin pressing against it and the pawl C brought into engagement with a shoulder e upon the lever E. The upper end of the trigger-block is connected to the lever (3 by means of a spring 0, as seen in Fig. 14, which throws the pawl G oit the shoulder c when the coin has finished its work.

Extending from the main portion of the lever E is an arm carrying upon its outer end a block E Figs. 3, at, 5, and 6, and extending from the web e is a similar block E directly in line with the block E and equidistant from the center of the shaft, both of said blocks being provided with holes, as seen in Figs. 3 and 4, for the adjustment of the delivery-gates, which will be described hereinafter. To these blocks are pivoted links 6 which are also connected with the delivery-gates. These gates are composed of two pieces of sheet metal. F F, (see Figs. 2, S, and 5,) sliding in grooves formed in guide-blocks F F. The guide-blocks F are secured to a channel-bar G, which extends the entire length of the machine, by means of four screws ,7, which pass through ears upon the blocks F and through the channel-iron, nuts being provided upon the screws to clamp the blocks to the channel-iron. The blocks F are slipped upon the screws and nuts provided upon both sides of the blocks whereby they may be adjusted along the screws to accommodate the space between the two gates F F to different sizes of merchandise to be delivered therefrom. The gates are each provided with ears f, to which the links 6 are pivoted, and when the operating lever is raised the gate F is drawn upward and. the gate F pushed downward, thus allowing the lowest package to escape, but shutting off the remainder. \Vhen the lever falls to its normal position, the gate F is drawn upward and the gate F pushed down, thus allowing another package to be in readiness to be delivered.

It is desired that when the last package has been delivered some means for closing up the slot shall be employed to prevent persons from inserting coins of the proper kin d without receiving anything therefor. Lying between the gates F F immediately above the package is a wire 71, pivoted in ear-sf upon the guide-block F where said wire is bent at right angles to the pivot, as seen at h, Figs. 2, 3 and 4, and is again bent upon itselfin to a horizontal line, as seen in Fig. 5 at 7L2. The portion 71, is connected to a lever H by means of a link h the lever H being pivoted to an upright 11, rising from the bracket D. The end of the lever is bent at right angles to itself, as seen at H in Fig. 5, and. when the last package has left the machine the wire 7L drops down, raising the portion 7L2, link 7r oscillating the lever H and bringingthe portion H directly in front of the coin-opening, thus preventing any one from inserting a coin. when there is nothing to be obtained therefor.

The merchandise is confined in cylindrically-shaped boxes X, which are loaded into cases provided therefor. A short distance above the coin-slot an angle-iron i (see Figs. 3 and 4) is secured to the front wall and extends the entire length of the machine. At the rear wall and at a suificient distance below the angle-iron to secure a proper incline to allow the packages to roll downward is secured a second angle-iron. '2", also extending the entire length of the machine. T- irons are riveted to the angle-irons i 1 and form tracks for supporting the cases I. Each case is made up of two parallel side walls I I (see Figs. 11 to 13) and shelves 1 1 extending inward a short distance from the side walls an d at an incline corresponding to the T- irons i Two end walls 1 are secured to the side walls and space enough is left between the end walls I and the shelves 1 I to allow the packages X to readily pass by. The sides of the case are connected by means of two pieces of tubing 21 1' (see Fig. 13,) resting against the edges of the shelves and internally screw threaded, their outer ends being connected by a screw-threaded rod it and their inner ends being held by means of long screws '5 This means of adjustment allows the cases to be made either narrow or wide to accommodate themselves to diiterent lengths of packages. Upon the rear rods 2' are pivoted retaining-gates .I. These gates are preferably made up of a piece of sheet metal bent at the top to form ears j and creased along its entire length, as seen in Figs. 3,11, and 12, thus forming an edge j. I have found that the packages in traveling down the space between the rear walls and the shelves are apt to bind against either of the walls, but that by constructing the retaining-gates in the manner shown and described and thus confining the packages between the two rear walls and edge j, thus making only three points of contact,

the packages will more read ily slide down and not clog up the chute.

I have provided chutes to carry the parcels from the cases to a trough in the bottom of the machine. Each chute is made up of two channel-shaped castings K, preferably hollowed out, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4, for lightness, and provided with ears it, which are internally screw-threaded and receive the ends of screw-threaded rods by means of which they may be adjusted for longer or shorter packages. These chutes are secured at their upper ends to the angle-irons t", and their lower ends rest in the upper portion of a trough L, said trough having the peculiar shape shown in Fig. 2 to prevent persons from putting their arms in, raising the gate F, and securing the merchandise in this manner.

The trigger-block C is provided with two passage-ways Z Z as shown in dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3, the passage-way Z being adapted to allow coins of less than the proper size to slide through it and into the case of the machine. WVhen, however, a proper coin has actuated the machine, it will roll through the passage-way Z, as seen in Fig. 3, and into a chute M, which extends downward and playing device, as seen in Figs. 6, 8, and 9. XVindowsP are provided in the front case immediately below the operating-handles, and the case at this point is constructed of separate pieces P, overlapping each other, as seen in Figs. 1 and 8. The plates P are secured to a plate Q, which extends the entire length of the apparatus, by means of pins q, projecting through holes in the plate Q. Screws q are partly screwed into the pins. A locking-plate Q, Figs. 8 and 9, is secured to the wall Q by screws running in slots g upon the locking-plate Q, and the plate is provided with keyhole-slots g through which the heads of the screws q are passed and the plate dropped down, locking the front plate P in place. I have shown a rod Q leading from the locking-plate Q to a convenient point where it may be reached by the hand.

The plate Q is provided with ribs Q (see Figs. 6 and 8,) between which the coins pass on their way to the drawer. Said ribs extend downward at a slight incline and at the end thereof is a cut-off device, which allows one coin at a time to escape. This cut-off device consists of a plate T (see Fig. 6) about as wide as a coin and having its edges turned inward at right angles thereto, forming walls t, which are cut away at 25 i forming passage-ways through which the coins may pass at the proper time. The upper end of the plate T is pivoted to a link T, provided at its upper end with an elongated slot T which engages a pin c upon ears E of the casting E E WVhen the lever E is oscillated upon the shaft C, the pin 6 engages with the end of the link, drawing the plate T upward and causing the hole 1 to register with the chute formed between the ribs Q Q and allowing the coins to roll downward until the first coin strikes the wall t. V hen the lever is re turned to its normal position, the wall t passes between the first two coins, the opening 2" registering with the coin which is held between the walls and allowing the coin to escape, after which it will fall through a hole g in the plate Q and into the drawer U. The drawer U is best seen in Figs. 2, 3, and l, and an opening is provided in one of the walls of the case through which it may be withdrawn. It is locked in place by a rod 11, which passes through a hole in the bottom of the drawer and extends upward to the top of the coin-slot, so that it can be conveniently grasped and the drawer unlocked.

In the above description I have explained specifically the exact construction of the different portions of my invention to enable the same to be thoroughly understood by per sons skilled in the art. I do not, however, intend to limit myself to the exact details, but will point out in the appended claims the dil'- ferent features which I consider essential to the embodiment of my invention.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentforward, where it is carried to the coin-disi 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a suitable casing containing a coin-actuated delivering mechanism and a front plate covering up said mechanism, of a pair of doors adapted to close up said casing, a rod extending the entire length of one of the doors, hooks secured to the rod and extending through the door,correspondin g holes in the otherdoor registering with the hooks when in their highest position and staples located upon the front plate whereby the hooks in their lowest position will engage with the staples and secure the doors in place; substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a suitable casing, of a pair of doors adapted to close said casing but also to be swung open against the sides thereof.

bolts secured to the doors and adapted to enter the walls of the case, locking-levers pivoted to the" side walls, links connecting the locking-levers, said levers lying in the path TIO of the bolts and adapted to lock the latter in place when actuated thereby; substantially as described.

The combination in a device of the class described, with a suitable case provided with a suitable opening and containing coin-actuated delivering mechanism, and a front plate covering up the working parts, of rods secured to the side walls,a pair of doors hinged upon said rods, a third door also hinged upon one of said rods and tubing encircling the 'rods between the hinges and other exposed parts of the rod whereby the appearance of a single tubing is presented; substantially as described.

a. In a coin-actuated vending-machine, the combination with mechanism for the delivery of merchandise, of a suitable bracket for supporting said mechanism, a coin-chute secured to the bracket, arms extending therefrom, conical bearing-blocks secured in the arms, washers located upon the outside of said arms, and screws connecting the washers with the bearin g-blocks, said bearing-blocks being provided with V-shaped notches, a scale, and a knife-edged shaft carrying said scale and resting in the V'shaped notches in the bearing-blocks; substantially as described.

5. In a coin-actuated vending-machine, the combination with a casing containing a coinactuated delivering mechanism and an operating-h andle, of a coin-chute, a switch located within said chute, a spring adapted to throw said switch out of register with the remainder of the chute and suitable means for forcing said switch into the register with the remaining portion of the chute upon the returning of the operating-handle to its normal position; substantially as described.

6. The combination with a suitable receptacle having inclined shelves, I of the rear wall, 1 and retaining-gates, J, pivoted to the shelves, said gates and walls being so arranged as to provide only one edge of contact with the packages on one side and two on the other; substantially as described.

7. In a receptacle for containing merchandise the combination with the side walls, I, rear walls, I inclined shelves, I internallyscrew-threa'ded tubes, '5 resting against the edges of the shelves, screw-threaded rods, 2", connecting the tubes and the screws, i eonnectin g the tube, '6, with the outer walls whereby all of the parts may be securely held together; substantially as described.

8. The combination in a receptacle for merchandise with suitable sides, end pieces inclined shelves and a passage-way between said shelves and end walls, of retaining-gates pivoted to the shelves and overlapping each other, said gates being so formed as to present only one edge to the parcels, whereby the parcels in their passage through the passageway will be confined only between the two rear walls and the edge along the gates; substantially as described. 7

being adjustable along the screws; substan-- tially as described.

10. The combination with a casing having a suitable coin-actuated delivering mechanism, of a coin-chute leading to the coin-actuated mechanism, a portion of said chute having substantially vertical and curved portions, a slot in the bottom of the curved portion, an inclined shoulder adapted to guide the coin, a scale adapted to receive the coin from said portion of the chute and normally lying out of register with the remainder of the chute, said scale adapted to be actuated by a coin of proper weight, whereby it will be made to register with the remainder of the chute, and a trigger-block located in the path of the coin and having portions so shaped with reference to the remaining portion of the chute that upon the raising of the operating-handle the coin will force the upper end of the block away from the chute and throw the lower part into working engagement with the delivering mechanism; substantially as described.

11. The combination with a casing having a suitable coin-actuated delivering mechanism, of a coin-chute leading to the coin-actuated mechanism, a portion of said chute having substantially vertical and curved portions, a slot in the bottom of the curved portion, an inclined shoulder adapted to guide the coin, a scale adapted to receive the coin from said portion of the chute and normally lying out of register with the remainder of the chute, said scale adapted to be actuated by a coin of proper weight, whereby it will be made to register with the remainder of the chute, a switch located in the remainder of the chute a spring adapted to hold said switch out of register with the remainder of the chute when the operating-handle is in a raised position, a lug upon said switch lying in the path of a corresponding lug upon the trigger-block and adapted to be put in register thereby, and a trigger-block located in the path of the coin and having portions so shaped with reference to the remaining portion of the chute that upon the raising of the operating-handle the coin will force the upper end of the block away from the chute and throw the lower part into working engagement with the delivering mechanism; substantially as described.

JOSEPH P. BER-ETTA. lVitnesses:

CHAS. O. Snnnvnv, A. I. H. EBBESEN. 

